I keep seeing all over facebook things about Spring Break. It's been going on for the last few weeks and quite frankly I am jealous. From age 5-21 every March we got a whole week off of school- basically for nothing. Going from that to the real world where you have to use vacation time and it is limited for breaks is quite hard. I wish I was relaxing on a beach, or just sitting at home doing nothing.
My spring breaks growing up were relatively routine. Every year my sister Paige would go stay with our Nani and Nana while Mom, Evan and I went to go visit my Aunt Becky and cousin's, Brittany and Skyler.
I can't really remember what we did all week but I am sure our mother's were sick of us by the end of it. A few of my favorite spring break memories:
-Going to the Capital (Topeka) My mom thought it would be good to take us somewhere educational. According to my mom my Aunt Becky didn't understand why she would want to do that b/c it seemed so boring. But for little kids it was really amazing. I am pretty sure we got to meet someone important..maybe the Governor? Or probably a Senator from middle of no where Kansas.
-One Spring Break Brittany and I thought it would be a lot of fun to have a prank war with our brothers. So the first night there we waited until they went to bed and then snuck into Skyler's room and put their hands in warm water and painted their finger nails. They didn't pee the bed like we hoped but they sure were confused when they woke up with painted nails. Now this started a full on war- in which our mother's were TOTALLY on the boys' side. They justified it by saying they were younger and didn't have any good ideas. Their first order of business was to put saran wrap on the toilet, which we found before we used the bathroom. I am sure we did something back but the one thing I remember the most was later in the week when we went to dinner. We all ordered cheeseburgers and my mom and Becky wanted our picture. Apparently there is a picture out there of Evan and Skyler putting tabasco all over our burgers while Brittany and I unknowingly smiled for the camera. Honestly, that was really mean. I loved food and to ruin my dinner like that! That is all I can really remember of that one...
-I remember another time when I got to Lawrence Brittany was so excited to see me and gave me a best friend necklace. Of course we are still best friends to this day :-)
-As I got older Spring Breaks were mostly about working. All through high school and college I mostly worked. My senior year of high school though my friends Emily and Debbie and I all went on a road trip to Western Kansas. I know, how cool. But Debbie and I went to camp together and all of our camp friends lived out there. We first visisted Michael Sager- he entertained us in Bird City by showing us how to throw bottles and street signs while you drive really fast by them. That visit to Bird City was a lot of fun and memorable to say the least. We next went to Garden City and visited Quincy and Sam. Debbie and Sam had something going on and so Emily and I hung out with Quincy most of the time. I am pretty sure they took us roller skating at the awesome Garden City roller rink. It was also while in Garden City that Emily wrecked my dad's car. Needless to say my dad was pissed... That was a good trip though. Lots of laughs and memories made.
-Throughout college Spring break was all about coming back home and working at Jose Peppers. Don't get me wrong I loved the money but all of my friends went on awesome trips. Finally senior year my friend Jenn and I along with 5 guys went to South Padre. Gotta say that was a crazy time. We drove through the night to get there and were apart of one of the student city type trips. We had a blast. Booze cruizes, trips to Mexico, among countless trips to the pool and ocean. It was a blast.
Since then though my Spring Breaks have consisted of working- at my real job. What I know today is that Spring Breaks are something to be cherished. As we grow older it is important to value the breaks you have during school. Don't rush to grow up. Enjoy every moment of your breaks and soak it up b/c it goes away very fast...
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
My Nani and Nana
I woke up with this morning after a horrible dream. One of those dreams that takes you the entire day to shake. My dream was about my family. We were on a boat outside of India, which I will explain why that makes sense later, and protesting how the British were treating the people of India. My Grandfather (Nana) was leading the family and in my dream had been leading the family on protests throughout India for quite sometime. The British got aboard are boat, and needless to say were not too happy. My Nana began speaking to them about what we were doing and they handcuffed him. They then took him down by the water and made him jump in. I saw it happen and ran to my Nani (Grandmother) and began sobbing she looked at me and said "I have never been more proud of my family".
Then I woke up. What a horrifying dream but at the same time it really tells a lot about my family. My Nani grew up in India. Her parents were missionaries there and she was raised to help others. My Nana is a United Methodist Minister and has been involved in various non-profits throughout his life. He has also been very involved in politics and has been known to attend a rally or two. This past weekend they went to Topeka to rally for the Union workers. My Nani said it reminded her of the marches and rallies they attended during the 1960's civil rights movement. My Nana almost went to march with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but did not have the bus fare to get to Alabama. Both of them are very involved in politics and will speak their mind on what they believe is right and wrong in this world. And I am sure you can guess they are very strong and involved Democrats- as is everyone in my family.
I get my passion for victims rights, women's rights, and human rights from my Grandparents. When I am around them all we talk about is politics, what it was like growing up when they did and the injustices in this world. My family is very intelligent and knows the importance of educating others.
I think my dream came from all the events happening around the world. The events in Egypt, the defunding of Planned Parenthood, the Unions, and so much more. In my dream we were protesting the way Britain was treating the people of India.
It makes me think about the way the United States is treating Muslim Americans. Shunning people due to their religious beliefs is against what this great country was founded on. Didn't the founding fathers come here to escape religious persecution? Didn't they make freedom of religion a part of the Constitution? I think they would be embarrassed at the way Americans are now acting. I think they would yell and scream that this is not what they wanted their country to be.
The Tea Party will say that the United States needs to get back to its roots, that we are a Christian Nation and "In God We Trust". I find that funny. We were not founded as a Christian Nation and the phrase "In God We Trust" came about in the 1950's. And it is my understanding that the US got it's Independence and became a country in 1776. So that seems strange. The Tea Party looks down upon anyone that is not Christian, that fights for human rights, and that thinks we all should be treated equally.
Supporting the Tea Party is supporting the persecutors, just like in my dream. And unfortunately people like me, that fight for people's rights and the injustices are the first ones to be shot at and harmed.
My Nani and Nana taught me about human rights, about how to treat others, about how to stand up for what you believe in, and how to show compassion and support to those in need. I am so thankful for them. Without them I might not have become the person I am today. I will never be too scared to say what I believe and to stand up for people's rights.
While my dream was devastating, I think my Nani was right. I am so proud of my family. No matter what life brings us, we will always stand up for what we believe in.
What I know today is that there are so many injustices in this world and that I will always stand up for what I believe in. I will always fight for victim's and women's rights and that I owe this ability and passion to my Nani and Nana. I love you! And keep fighting the fight!
Then I woke up. What a horrifying dream but at the same time it really tells a lot about my family. My Nani grew up in India. Her parents were missionaries there and she was raised to help others. My Nana is a United Methodist Minister and has been involved in various non-profits throughout his life. He has also been very involved in politics and has been known to attend a rally or two. This past weekend they went to Topeka to rally for the Union workers. My Nani said it reminded her of the marches and rallies they attended during the 1960's civil rights movement. My Nana almost went to march with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but did not have the bus fare to get to Alabama. Both of them are very involved in politics and will speak their mind on what they believe is right and wrong in this world. And I am sure you can guess they are very strong and involved Democrats- as is everyone in my family.
I get my passion for victims rights, women's rights, and human rights from my Grandparents. When I am around them all we talk about is politics, what it was like growing up when they did and the injustices in this world. My family is very intelligent and knows the importance of educating others.
I think my dream came from all the events happening around the world. The events in Egypt, the defunding of Planned Parenthood, the Unions, and so much more. In my dream we were protesting the way Britain was treating the people of India.
It makes me think about the way the United States is treating Muslim Americans. Shunning people due to their religious beliefs is against what this great country was founded on. Didn't the founding fathers come here to escape religious persecution? Didn't they make freedom of religion a part of the Constitution? I think they would be embarrassed at the way Americans are now acting. I think they would yell and scream that this is not what they wanted their country to be.
The Tea Party will say that the United States needs to get back to its roots, that we are a Christian Nation and "In God We Trust". I find that funny. We were not founded as a Christian Nation and the phrase "In God We Trust" came about in the 1950's. And it is my understanding that the US got it's Independence and became a country in 1776. So that seems strange. The Tea Party looks down upon anyone that is not Christian, that fights for human rights, and that thinks we all should be treated equally.
Supporting the Tea Party is supporting the persecutors, just like in my dream. And unfortunately people like me, that fight for people's rights and the injustices are the first ones to be shot at and harmed.
My Nani and Nana taught me about human rights, about how to treat others, about how to stand up for what you believe in, and how to show compassion and support to those in need. I am so thankful for them. Without them I might not have become the person I am today. I will never be too scared to say what I believe and to stand up for people's rights.
While my dream was devastating, I think my Nani was right. I am so proud of my family. No matter what life brings us, we will always stand up for what we believe in.
What I know today is that there are so many injustices in this world and that I will always stand up for what I believe in. I will always fight for victim's and women's rights and that I owe this ability and passion to my Nani and Nana. I love you! And keep fighting the fight!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)